Children’s contact with their imprisoned fathers and the father–child relationship following release

Bibliographic Data

ID13009623
AuthorsCaroline Lanskey (0000-0003-4866-4191, University of Cambridge, corresponding author), Friedrich Lösel (0000-0001-5461-3003, University of Cambridge), Lucy Markson (0000-0001-5901-9345, University of Cambridge), Karen Souza (0000-0003-1266-6718, University of Cambridge)
Year2014
Volume5
Issue1
Pages43-58
Publication date2014-07-11
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueFamilies Relationships and Societies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2046-7435 • E-ISSN: 2046-7443
PublisherPolicy Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1332/204674314x14037881746154
OpenAlexW4231473732
LanguageEN
Citations received9

This article investigates children’s contact with their imprisoned fathers and the influence on their relationships following release. It is based on data from a mixed-methods prospective longitudinal study of 45 children (aged four to 18) in England whose fathers had played an active role in their lives prior to the prison sentence. The study found that face-to-face contact and telephone calls correlated significantly with the father–child relationship after the father’s release, as reported by both parents. Written contact played less of a role. The longitudinal correlations remained significant after controlling for the level of the father’s involvement with his children before imprisonment. The quantitative findings were supported by qualitative data from the children, fathers and mothers, which illustrated how contact supported the father–child relationship through the facilitation of familiar interactions (physical comfort, emotional support, discipline, guidance) even if in a limited and altered form

Criminology · Developmental psychology · Facilitation · Imprisonment · Longitudinal study · Prison · Child Abuse and Trauma · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Homelessness and Social Issues · Medicine · Psychology

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